Results La Vuelta Femenina 2026 stage 2 | Shari Bossuyt powers to victory as race leader Noemi Ruegg crashes out in chaotic finale

La Vuelta Femenina 2026 was blown wide open on Stage 2 as Shari Bossuyt sprinted to victory in San Cibrao das Viñas, while race leader Noemi Ruegg crashed out of the race in a chaotic finale.

The Belgian proved fastest from a reduced group on the uphill finish, but the stage was ultimately defined by the dramatic exit of Ruegg, whose fall in the closing kilometres reshaped the general classification.

The opening phase was marked by repeated but short-lived attacks, with the peloton initially unwilling to allow a move to go clear. Attempts from riders such as Aniek van Alphen and Katia Ragusa were quickly brought back, keeping the pace high and the bunch compact.

That changed on a rising section of road when a group of five riders finally established a gap. Carina Schrempf, Andrea Casagranda, Julie Van De Velde, Marieke Meert and Lea Rondel built an advantage that hovered around the one-minute mark. FDJ United - SUEZ controlled the peloton behind, ensuring the move never gained enough time to become a real threat.

As the stage wore on, pressure from the peloton began to tell. Teams including Lidl-Trek Women and SD Worx - Protime contributed to the chase, steadily reducing the gap.

The breakaway was caught inside the final 30 kilometres, immediately triggering a more aggressive phase of racing as riders began to anticipate the decisive climb.

The turning point of the stage came in the run-in to the finale. Race leader Noemi Ruegg crashed in the peloton after touching wheels, bringing down Eleonora Ciabocco and forcing both riders to chase. The damage proved decisive. Unable to recover, Ruegg was later forced to abandon the race, ending her time in the red jersey in dramatic fashion.

With the race destabilised, attacks followed. Katrine Aalerud launched a solo move for Uno-X Mobility Women and briefly held an advantage heading into the final climb, but the peloton gradually closed her down as the gradient began to bite.

Behind, positioning became crucial. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Lotte Kopecky were both attentive near the front, while the pace continued to thin the group.

The decisive moves came on the final 3.1-kilometre ascent. Paula Blasi launched an attack, drawing out a select group including Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Liane Lippert and Anna van der Breggen.

As the pace intensified, the group was further reduced, setting up a sprint among the strongest survivors. In that finale, Shari Bossuyt proved the fastest, taking victory ahead of Franziska Koch and Evita Muzic.